Accusing Chief Minister Harish Rawat and the Vidhan Sabha Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal of blatant corruption, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former State Minister, Harak Singh Rawat, has said that cheques for Rs 5,000 per family were being issued from the CM discretionary fund to appease some members of public in Dharchula and Jageshwar constituencies.
However, the poor persons genuinely in need of such assistance are being ignored, which is causing rise in public discontent, he said.
Alleging that the Chief Minister receives Rs 20 crore kickbacks per month under the Foreign liquor II (Fl-II) license system, Harak also accused Kunjwal of securing jobs for his family members and relatives in the Vidhan Sabha.
Addressing the media at the BJP State office after recently returning from rallies in Dharchula, Jageshwar and other parts of Kumaon, Harak averred that the people in Dharchula and Jageshwar constituencies were irked at corruption and nepotism affecting the Kumaon region.
He averred, “Participating in the party’s Pardafash rally in Dharchula and Jageshwar, one got to evidence the ground reality of the state of work in political and developmental conditions remaining stagnant. Various attempts like imposition of section 144, severing power supply and attempting to spread an atmosphere to keep the locals away from our rally in vain. The people were awaiting an opportunity for raising their issues in the political demonstration. While in Kumaon, I got to evidence the alleged involvement of criminal syndicates in different spheres.”
He further added, “About Rs 5,000 in cheque were being given per family head under the chief minister discretionary fund to the locals to appease them while those needing such aid remain deprived. Some of our local office bearers had also received such cheques, which they returned stating they could meet their requirements adequately sans financial aid.”
levelling further allegations, he said that the CM was getting kickbacks from liquor trade under Fl-II system.
“Chief minister Harish Rawat has been receiving Rs 20 crore in kickbacks per month with Rs 10 crore per month going to those recovering money under Fl-II. This is a cause for major discontent. Earlier when I was a state minister, this specific issue had been raised disapprovingly not only bby myself but also by cabinet ministers and senior Congress leaders Indira Hridayesh and Yashpal Arya. What problem does the CM have when the Pradesh Congress Committee president Kishore Kumar seeks a probe into all the alleged major scams reported in Uttarakhand since its formation in 2000IJ”
Earlier, the BJP leader alleged that residents of Dharchula and Jageshwar are dissatisfied with the state of affairs influence by involvement of criminal syndicates.
“There is a sense of anarchy, fear and tension in the Kumaon region with hardly any major work being undertaken in the Dharchula and Jageshwar Vidhan Sabha constituency segments represented by Rawat and Kunjwal respectively during the past three years. Before my arrival in Kumaon, Kunjwal had held meetings telling people to raise black flags during my visit but later retracted the plan after it was said that in such a case, black flags would be raised in every meeting of his in the region. The CM is acting in a vindictive manner against those who took a stand against him. But I assure that on being elected to form its government in Uttarakhand, the BJP will progress towards recommending investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into all the major corruption cases that have emerged in Uttarakhand especially the disaster relief scam, mining scam and allegations of improper appointments being made to posts in the Vidhan Sabha among other issues. On the other hand, Kunjwal has acted in a questionable manner by securing appointments in the Vidhan Sabha for his daughter, son in-law and other family members. The e-tendering system touted by the State Government is a mere eyewash as the projects in question are handed out considering political influence and not the bids. Such is the level of frustration among the people, that I am confident that the BJP can hope to win on more than 45 Vidhan Sabha seats in the coming election,” he said.
Other BJP leaders including Devendra Bhasin were also present in the press conference.